Review: The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa, a hill-top golf resort in Japan

This is our review of The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa resort.

Keen to promote destinations outside Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Japan Airlines sent me to Okinawa. This is one of the southernmost islands in Japan and widely regarded as the ‘Hawaii of Japan’ thanks to its tropical climate.

History buffs may be familiar with Okinawa as one of the only Japanese islands to experience a ground invasion during the Battle of Okinawa in World War Two. This was the largest amphibious assault of the war and resulted in multiple US military bases on the islands which operate to this day.

Okinawa is in many ways totally different to the main islands of Japan, thanks to both its climate and culture. In fact, many Okinawans identify as Okinawans first and Japanese second.

These days, Okinawa is known as a popular tourist destination for both domestic and international tourists seeking out tropical beach holidays, with a multitude of resorts to choose from. The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa opened in 2009, initially as an independent hotel before joining Marriott in 2011.

The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa hosted me in exchange for a review. The hotel website is here.

Where is The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa?

Okinawa is approximately a two and a half hour flight from Tokyo. As with many domestic flights in Japan it is often operated by widebody aircraft; JAL appears to use a combination of Airbus A350 and Boeing 767 aircraft.

Okinawa is a very long, thin island stretching from the South-West to the North-East. The main airport is in the capital, Naha, in the South-West. Head to the North-East and you’ll leave the large city behind you in favour of smaller towns and expansive tropical forests and mountains. Fortunately it is not very big – it takes around three hours to drive from the top of Okinawa to the bottom.

The Ritz-Carlton is located about midway up the island, on the north coast near a city called Nago. It’s about an hour’s drive from Naha airport, depending on the traffic.

Public transport is not great so if you can I recommend you rent a car to explore. Without a car you are limited to the airport bus limousine service, which only operates to The Ritz-Carlton once or twice a day, or taking a taxi which will set you back around £100 one-way. Both options limit your ability to explore the rest of the island.

Inside The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa

The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa is not a beach resort, although the closest beaches are just a three minute drive away. Instead, the hotel is perched at the top of a vantage point overlooking the coast and surrounded by Kise golf course. It reminded me of Penha Longa, another Ritz-Carlton hotel in Sintra, Portugal which is also surrounded by lush vegetation and golf.

In contrast to many of the white-washed concrete beach resorts on the island, The Ritz-Carlton is all the more attractive because it has been built in a traditional Okinawan style. It is a relatively blocky, castle-like structure straddling multiple levels (the main lobby level is technically the third floor, although it feels like the ground!). It is hard to photograph so here is a PR photo:

The water gardens surrounding the third floor are pretty during the day but even more impactful at night when they reflect a multitude of glittering lamps:

The lobby is an open-air space which must be lovely in the summer although it was a little breezy on a blustery March day.

The actual check-in is processed indoors just off to the right which is significantly warmer!

On arrival the doorman took my luggage and I was offered a welcome drink and refreshing towel whilst I completed the check-in process.

Rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa

Although this is an established hotel, renovation of all 97 rooms and suites in the hotel was completed in November 2024 and brought them up to modern standards in both connectivity and style.

The design is inspired by Ryukyu culture with bright, minimalist interiors featuring warm Chinese banyan wood finishes and cream textiles. As you can see, the room is split into two:

On the left hand side you have the bedroom area whilst on the right is the bathroom. Immediately on the right is the mini bar which was stocked to the brim with a selection of soft drinks, beer and alcohol as well as a handful of snacks. This is all chargeable, of course, although tea and coffee (Nespresso) are free of charge.

Immediately after this is the bathroom with a glass shower featuring Diptyque Philosykos toiletries in big pump bottles.

Also in the bathroom are two wash basins:

Given the importance of bathing culture in Japan it’s no surprise that every room also comes with a big free-standing bath, replete with bath salts, Japanese-style body towels (for washing with) and a loofah.

Next up is the bedroom. Only a handful of rooms feature king-size beds; the rest feature twin double beds pushed close together, something I’m told is fairly common in Japan and similar to the European style of having separate duvets.

The bed was exceptionally comfortable and I liked the pillows as well – just perfect for me. Each side had a large bedside table with easily accessible (and intuitive) controls for the lights as well as the electric curtains. Universal mains, USB-C and USB-A ports were also available.

Opposite the bed was a TV and console table:

…. as well as a small bunch of delicate red orchids hanging from a little vase on the wall:

In the window was a sofa and dining table:

Finally, there was a balcony overlooking the hotel and the surrounding golf course with views across to the bay:

It is all beautifully refurbished – you can’t fault what has been done here.

Rooms are serviced twice a day – morning and night – with turndown providing chocolate cookies, tomorrow’s weather forecast and a scent stone of local Okinawan stone.

Spa, pool and gym

As a resort hotel the spa, pool and gym are an important part of the experience. The outdoor pool overlooking the golf course is open from 1st April (after my stay) until the end of November, so here is a PR photo:

Ten or so of the rooms are called cabana rooms. These are on the same floor as the pool with direct access from their private gardens, which I’m sure are popular with families.

Over the winter months you can use the indoor pool which is part of the spa complex in a separate building. Access is via a short two-minute walk through a beautiful tropical garden, or if you’re feeling lazy the hotel staff will buggy you there.

The spa building contains not only the indoor pool but also the gym, which looks into the surrounding tree canopy.

The spa’s thermal suite / onsen is available to all hotel guests, not just those getting a spa treatment, and features gender-segregated facilities. As is traditional in Japan the saunas, hot pool and other facilities are used in the nude. Don’t be bashful! Here’s a photo I managed to take when nobody else was around:

Ritz-Carlton Okinawa Club Lounge

If you’ve booked a Club-level room then you have access to The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge. Note that this is not a benefit of Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

The Club Lounge is on the first floor of the restaurant pavilion. This means it doesn’t enjoy particularly good views (it is located in the centre of the resort complex) but it is nonetheless a good spot to relax, with dark wood panelling making for a dramatic setting.

Food service is provided five times a day and includes breakfast, afternoon tea and happy hour. I popped in during happy hour and was pleased to see champagne was included amongst the complimentary drinks selection. Cocktails, beers, whiskeys and other spirits are also available.

The food selection takes inspiration from the hotel’s three restaurants with a selection of Italian and Japanese items including various proteins such as beef, chicken and pork:

Here are the hot items:

It was beautifully presented and you could probably make do for dinner, although there isn’t a huge variety.

I was told that the resort has plans to renovate both the Club Lounge and restaurants in the coming year (2025).

The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa dining and breakfast

For a proper dinner, you can choose from three restaurants: Chura-Nuhji, a popular Italian restaurant; Kise, a teppenyaki restaurant and Gusuku, serving local Japanese and Okinawan dishes.

I enjoyed the teppenyaki at Kise with a choice of three different seven-course set menus priced between 17,000 (£90) and 25,000 JPY (£130).

Unlike the (I’m told) ‘Americanised’ style of teppenyaki which often involves juggling eggs and excessive flambéing this was a much more serious approach to live cooking and resulted in genuinely excellent food.

Breakfast is served buffet style at Gusuku, although Gusuku is otherwise not a buffet restaurant. This features a large dining room overlooking the watergardens of the hotel.

On a scale of Japanese to Western I’d say the breakfast offering was pretty Japanese, although some Western staples were available such as cereals, pastries and hot items such as bacon and sausages.

Otherwise you had a variety of prepared local dishes including Okinawan soba, miso and a multitude of vegetable dishes. A small hot station featured the aforementioned sausages and bacon as well as roasted potatoes, carrots and cooked vegetables. There was also a live egg station.

I ordered the Okinawan eggs benedict which came on a small disc with bitter melon, bacon and hollandaise sauce which was delicious:

Other delicacies included salmon roe and sword fish.

The hotel lobby bar arguably has the best views of all the dining options. It’s not really in the lobby, but in a grand room off to the side:

There’s a lovely outdoor terrace to the left as well.

Conclusion

Okinawa probably isn’t top of your list when it comes to Japan, but it offers a lovely counterpoint to the main islands thanks to its tropical climate and Okinawan culture.

Although I spent my short time there at the resort, there’s plenty to see and do in the area from the local beaches and forests to scuba diving and attractions such as Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. This is about 45 minutes’ drive away and was once home to the largest tank in the world (since overtaken by one in China).

If, like me, you don’t leave The Ritz-Carlton then you can look forward to a relaxing and restful stay thanks to the fresh sea breeze, verdant views and lovely spa. It’s a lovely break from the big Japanese cities and with beautifully renovated rooms a very enjoyable stay.

Rates at the Ritz-Carlton Okinawa start at around 60,000JPY (around £300) per night or 79,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

If you are planning a cash stay, I recommend getting a quote from Emyr Thomas, our hotel booking partner. He can access special packages – priced at the standard Best Flexible Rate – which include free breakfast, $100 per stay to spend in the hotel and a potential upgrade. You pay at check-out as usual. You can contact Emyr via the form here.

You can find out more, and book, on the hotel website here.

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